William Joseph Spencer

In Loving Memory and Admiration for

William J. Spencer

September 25, 1930 - April 7, 2024

William Joseph Spencer passed away on April 7, 2024, at the age of 93. Bill was born on September 25 of 1930 in Raytown, Missouri to Edna White Spencer and Joseph Mack Spencer. He had two younger siblings, a brother Donald, and a sister Barbara.

Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Jewell College in 1952, where he excelled in both academics and sports. Bill competed in football, basketball, and track and earned honors that later led to his 1996 induction into the William Jewell Athletic Hall of Fame. He planned on coaching, with a major in Physical Education until he took a physics class in his senior year and decided to become a physicist.

At William Jewell College, he met the love of his life, Joan Eileen Spencer, a voice major in the music department and a popular beauty queen. They married on June 5, 1953.

Bill's college days were interrupted as he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict two weeks after the marriage. After serving almost 2 years in the US, the Korean conflict came to an end and Bill was able to return to graduate school. Their daughter Sherrill Sue was born in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 1954.

Bill was awarded a Master of Science degree in Mathematics at Kansas State University in 1956, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Kansas State University in 1959. Their daughter Kimberly Ann (later Helki) was born in Manhattan, Kansas in 1959.

Bill's scientific abilities and credentials from college led to multiple job offers. Bell Laboratories did not recruit from Kansas State, but Bill was able to get an interview and job offer, and he accepted a job at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. Working at Bell Labs during this era, Bill's resume grew substantially under the mentorship of top scientists, particularly those working on transistors and the space program. One example was Bill's development of a crystal device at the core of the world's first voice communications satellite. This drew nationwide attention when it enabled conversations via satellite across the Atlantic Ocean. He received multiple promotions, a trend that continued throughout his life.

Bill's assignment at Bell Labs allowed the family to experience life in New Jersey, Massachusetts, with a longer residence in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

From 1973 to 1978, Bill held an assignment as director of microelectronics at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque. Bill and Joan spent much of their leisure time while in New Mexico exploring the Rocky Mountains hiking and skiing.

Bill and Joan moved to California in 1978 as Bill served as director of systems development at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore from 1978 to 1981. His first granddaughter Shalana Bridget Lysaght was born in 1979.

In 1981, Bill joined Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), an organization known for its many innovations in personal computers. In the mid-1980's, Bill was PARC's director. During this time in California, Bill and Joan enjoyed living in Palo Alto and Mountain View.

Following this, he was group vice president and senior technical officer at Xerox Corporation in Stamford, Connecticut. During this time, Bill and Joan had a second granddaughter Darcy Clair Lysaght, born in 1989. Shalana and Darcy spent many summers visiting their grandparents on both the east coast and west coast.

Bill and Joan were supporters and season ticket holders for the San Francisco symphony and the San Francisco Opera for many years. Bill usually spent part of each day contemplating and listening to music, mostly classical but also 40's and 50's jazz and pop singers. He loved Frank Sinatra, and especially his song "My Way".

In 1990, Bill and Joan moved to Austin, TX where Bill was named CEO of Sematech, a consortium to advance computer chip manufacturing. He was named chairman of the Sematech board in July of 1996, and later Chairman Emeritus. By this time, Bill and Joan had a house and boat on Lake Austin, which was the source of much enjoyment as the whole Spencer family then lived in the same community.

During his career, Bill was recognized by many universities and organizations for his life of scientific contributions. He received the Regents Meritorious Service Medal from the University of New Mexico in 1981, the C. B. Sawyer Award for contribution to "The Theory and Development of Piezoelectric Devices" in 1972, and a Citation for Achievement from William Jewell College, where he also received an honorary doctorate degree in 1990. He is a fellow of IEEE and served on the advisory boards of the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Illinois, Stanford University, and Kansas State University. Also, in 1998-99 he served as a visiting professor and Regents Professor at the Haas School of Business and the College of Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley. In the 2000's, Bill served as a member of the Washington Advisory Group (LLC) and he consulted for them on corporate R&D strategy, technology management, and corporate-academic partnerships. He was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in September of 1988.

Bill and Joan loved to travel. They were able to visit both China and Russia before those countries were opened to foreign tourists. They visited Italy and learned to mountain climb, they skied each year with good friends in Aspen, and they loved to take road trips to explore much of the US.

In 1998, they bought a house in Ouray, Colorado. For over a decade they spent most of the summer and fall there, as well as going skiing in the winter. Bill's passion was hiking. He set foot on every trail in Ouray and the surrounding area. His daughter Sherrill and her family were able to share many hikes with him as well as skiing the blue slopes while Bill was on the black diamonds.

Sadly, after a very full life, Joan passed away in 2016.

Throughout his life, Bill continued his athletic lifestyle, including running, hiking, biking, sailing, tennis, basketball, skiing, windsurfing and roller blading. He continued walking, hiking, and skiing well into his 80's.

During his later years, Bill shared joy with a new partner in life, Kathy Baldanzi. Bill and Kathy spent time together that brought them enjoyment and companionship. Bill enjoyed the company of Kathy's daughter Erin and granddaughter Valentina.

Bill is survived by his partner Kathy Baldanzi, Sherrill Brekke (spouse James), Helki Gonzalez (spouse Jorge), Shalana Lysaght Kitch (spouse Jeremy Kitch), and Darcy Lysaght (partner Jonathan). He is also survived by three nephews, Jim Spencer (spouse Alex and son Judson), Don Spencer (spouse Gina) and Andy Spencer. Additionally, he was able to spend time with his 2 step-grandchildren, Adam Brekke (spouse Virginia) and David Brekke (spouse Melissa) and his four step-great grandsons.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held in Ouray, Colorado on a date to be determined in the fall of 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that wishes and words of remembrance be given with this obituary on the legacy.com website. The family extends its deepest gratitude to the caregivers and hospice workers who cared for Bill in his home. Also, thanks to those who work at the Neptune Society for their kindness and care.